7 April 2007
Churches Celebrate Holy Week
Holy week celebrations in churches began on April 1 and will continue for a week till April 8, the Easter Sunday. On April 1 the celebration began with Palm Sunday. It is celebrated in remembrance of the Passover day during the days of Jesus. This ceremony includes the blessing of the palm leaves and the people carry it in procession, followed by the holy mass.
On Thursday, April 5, Maundy Thursday ceremony was conducted. This included the washing of the feet of selected parishioners who were very pious and doing service for the spiritual uplift of the church. They are 12 in number and this symbolizes Jesus washing the feet of 12 disciples during the last supper before the day of crucifixion.
April 6 was Good Friday, in the remembrance of the crucifixion of Jesus. Way of the Cross was held in all the churches and in some churches people carried cross from a long distance to the church premises.
On April 7, the Easter vigil started at 10.30 in the night and it was followed by holy mass. This day celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. With these days the holy week celebrations come to an end and all the Christians wait for their next occasion of celebration of Christmas eight months away.